If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Gene Simmons comments on =VH=

Gene Simmons is on Stern right now. He said that he discovered =VH= at the Starwood in Cali. He was actually there to see the headliner and ran backstage to approach them. They were about sign with a Yogurt Company for funding and instead signed with Gene. The rest of Kiss and Gene's company didn't think =VH= would amount to anything so he ripped up the contract. A few weeks later WB signed them and the rest is history. He was surprisingly very humble about the story how he discovered them.

Howard asked Gene who the best 5 guitarists of all time are. His initial response was it doesn't matter in today's music. Sad but true. There are no "virtuosos" in modern day music. There was in the 60s, 70s, 80s and part of the 90s. Guess that's out the window these days.

Van Halen IS: Eddie, Alex, Michael, Dave & Sammy (Sorry Gary)

We drink Mescal right from the bottle
Salt shaker, little lick a lime, ahh
Throwin' down, down, tryin' to reach the bottom
Where the guave worm, well he's mine all mine

Forgot to mention........the headlining act that Gene came to see at the Starwood was George Lynch's band, The Boyz. George stated he was crushed by Ed's performance and knew he had to hit the woodshed fast.

Actually, he recorded 20 or so songs and tried to get them a record contract.

but with Gene's antiseptic style of production...
They sounded too stale, you didn't get the real personality of the band,
dialed the reverb waaay back, and made it a very tight, polished sound.

He was making it sound like KISS, and it didn't work.

He couldn't get them a record deal with the demos he produced,
so he let them out of the contract...

Ted Templeman took the reigns, knew the right sounds to go after...
and (together w/Van Halen) he made history.

Had nothing to do with caving in to Paul's demands....
That's how he 'spins' it now,
to save face and not have to admit that he failed as a producer.

I'm not denying Simmons involvement. I do take issue with the rather self-serving claim of "discovering" something that already exists.

Years ago, the "artist" known to musak jazz fans everywhere as "Kenny G" tried to copyright the concept of "rebreathing", a way of actually breathing through one's instrument allowing prolonged periods of sustain. Unfortunately for Mr. "G", the idea had existed since the invention of horned instruments and was a commonly used practice, so his "idea" was laughed out of court.

When it comes to shameless self promotion, Gene Simmons is a legend. Sadly, he is primarily a legend in his own mind.

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

I dunno. Gene looked pretty stupid when he was on "Millionaire" and tanked
on an $800 question.

He's done OK with money 'cause he's merchandised everything that isn't
nailed down and sold out more times than pussy flavored ice cream in the
prison cafeteria. But as an intellectual, he's way overrated. Check out the
ill-fated "Rock School" for more proof.

Simmons

You know the funny thing about it is he acknowledges it. He has made no apologies for basically being an amoral money grubbing shill. He admits it. I respect his honesty. I respect nothing else about him but I respect his honesty.

"Can't crow before I'm outta the woods but there's exceptions to the rules.."

Our little dedication to CRPS awareness. If you don't know what this horrible disease is, please click this link to learn more. My (Brett) wife suffers from this extremely painful and debilitating nerve disorder that doctors are just now learning more about and realizing the severity. Please consider donating to help doctors find a cure for what many call the "suicide disease." Thank you!

Like Us On Facebook!

Newest Posts

I'm guessing the guys who are painting the squealer cards are referring to frontmen who can actually hit the high octaves as close as it sounds in studio? LOL. What a concept.
Freddie Mercury and...